Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 8 November 2026 celebrated Diwali with security personnel at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh — marking the 13th consecutive year he has spent the festival with defence or security forces. This year's celebration carries added weight: it is the first Diwali since the declared complete elimination of Naxalism from the region, making the visit both a symbolic and strategic statement from the Centre.

A Historic Diwali in Bastar

The CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur was once a frontline launchpad for counter-Naxal operations across Bastar and Abujhmad — areas long regarded as the heartland of Maoist insurgency. Addressing personnel gathered there, Modi said he had come to the forests of Bastar on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians to convey the nation's gratitude for their sacrifices and dedication.

'Every soldier is a part of my family,' he declared, calling the men and women of the security forces 'the courageous sons and daughters of Mother India.' He said millions of Indians celebrating Diwali across the country and around the world do so with pride because of the vigilance of those who serve on the frontlines.

Modi Declares Victory Over Naxalism

The Prime Minister described Diwali 2026 as 'truly historic,' noting it is the first time every single district in the country is free from Naxalism. 'This is the first Diwali since the nation achieved victory in the decades-long struggle against Naxalism and Maoist terror,' he said. He added that millions of citizens have finally shed the fear of Naxal violence — a development he called a major national achievement, with credit belonging principally to the security forces.

Modi recalled how Bastar was once synonymous with Naxal terror. Thanks to the relentless efforts and sacrifices of personnel deployed in the region, he said, the insurgency has been extinguished and a new wave of development is now possible.

Internal Security as a Pillar of National Strength

The Prime Minister used the occasion to draw a direct link between internal security and external resilience. 'When a nation's internal security is robust, external adversaries cannot succeed; conversely, when internal security weakens, external threats begin to emerge,' he said. He stressed that the role of security forces within the country is as critical as that of the armed forces at the borders.

13 Consecutive Diwalis with the Forces

Sunday's visit continues a tradition Modi has maintained since 2014. Last year, he spent Diwali with naval personnel aboard INS Vikrant in Goa. Over the previous twelve occasions, he visited border and conflict regions across the country — with Jammu and Kashmir featuring most frequently at three visits, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh at two each. The choice of Bastar this year underscores the government's intent to spotlight the success against Left-wing extremism as a defining achievement.

What This Means Going Forward

The visit signals that the Centre views the anti-Naxal campaign not merely as a security success but as the opening of a development corridor in a resource-rich but historically underserved region. With the insurgency declared over, focus is expected to shift to infrastructure, connectivity, and livelihoods in Chhattisgarh's tribal belts. How quickly that pivot translates into on-ground change for communities in Bastar and Abujhmad will be closely watched.